Pivoted anchor bracket for adjustable knee brace



g 4, 1959 V E. c. WILLIAMS 2,898,071

PIVOTED ANCHOR BRACKET FOR ADJUSTABLE KNEE BRACE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5. 1955 Y INVQENTOR. ERNEST C. WILLIAMS BY 2 4 g/m Aug. 4, 1959 E. c. WILLIAMS 2,898,071

PIVOTED ANCHGDR BRACKET FOR ADJUSTABLE KNEE BRACE Filed July 5. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ERNEST C. WILLIAMS I ATTORNEY 2,898,071 Patented Aug. 4, 1959 PIVQTED. ANCHOR BRACKET FOR ADJUSTABLE.

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Ernest C. Williams, Grand Rapids, Mich. Applicatio July ,5, 195.5, SerialNO. 519,686 10 Claims. (Cl. 248-.442)

This invention relates to-an adjustable knee brace for supporting catwalks for construction purposes. and more particularly it is concerned with an anchor bracket for an adjustable knee brace.

Knee braces, as traditionally constructed, are usually nonadjustable. If constructed for use. on awall having a particular. batter, they are. usuable only on walls having: an identical batter. In most cases, the. anchor bracket for anchoring the knee braces'to a support member secured to the wall are not adaptable for all of the various batters used today. Therefore, different anchor brackets have to be constructed for each batter. The most common type of support member for knee braces are commonlyreferred to -as waler-supports. There are several typesof waler supports each of which usually requires a specific type "of anchorbrackct. Therefore, 'in securing knee braces to a wall, different anchor brackets have. to be constructed for each waler support as well as for each batter.

This invention overcomes this difliculty by providing for'an adjustable knee brace an anchor bracket which can be quickly and readily adjustable for any batter.

Thus, it can be used with walls havingdifferent batters.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ad: justable knee brace having an adjustable anchor bracket which can be quickly and readily adjustable for several types of waler supports. As a result. it can. be used in conjunction witliqdiiferent'types of waler support .Still another. object of this, invention is toplovide an adjustable knee brace having an adjustable anchor bracket which can be quickly-and readily adjusted to besecured to a tiebolt in amasonry wall whereby the knee brace lies directly against the masonry surface.

Because. ofits quick adaptabili y o l and differ n typesof walls and mounting structures, this invention provides a convenientand easymeans for anchoring a knee brace to a supporting structure.

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent upon reading the following, specification in conjunction with-the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is aside elevational view of my invention, also showing, in phantom, the members of the knee brace in partially collapsed position.

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged side elevational view of the anchor bracket in position on one. type. of waler support.

Fig. 3' shows an enlarged side elevationalview of the anchor bracket inposition on another typeuof waler support. i

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged section elevational: view. of; the-anchor bracket in. the position shown in Eig'ur'eiB.

Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the main part .of the. anchor bracket.

Fig. 6 shows an end view of the part shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 isaview of the anchor bracket supportingthe knee brace-directlytoa masonry-wall. fBrie'fly, thisinventioii is concerned with an adjustable knee brace, having an adjustable anchorbraoket" which isadaptedto anchor the knee brace to almost any type of supporting structure. The knee brace which the anchor bracket of this invention is particularly adapted to. support is of the type described in my co-pending application Serial No. 428,725, filed May 10, 1954, now abandoned. For purposes of illustration the adjustable. Y knee brace described herein is almost identical to the knee brace described in my co-pending application, there-= fore, for a more detailed explanation of the adjustable knee brace reference is made to such co-pending applica-- tion.

' Referring now specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 indicates a knee brace having a horizontal leg 11, a vertical leg 12, and a diagonal leg 13. The horizontal leg 11 is a U-shaped channel with its side flanges 25 turned downwardly. The vertical leg 12 consists of a pair of spaced angles, one of which is shown. These angles seat against spacers, not shown, on thesides of the horizontal leg 11, one on each side thereof.

The diagonal leg 13 also consists of a pair of spaced. angles, one of which is shown, which seat against the,

outside of the angles of the vertical leg 12. All of these elements are described more specifically in my co-pending application Serial No. 428,725.

The horizontal leg 11 is pivotally secured to the angles of the vertical leg 12 by means of a bolt 15. The diagonal leg 13 and vertical leg 12 are pivotally joined at a point adjacent the lower end of the vertical leg by means of a bolt 16. Both of these bolts may be permanently installed since their subsequent removal is un-. necessary, therefore, these bolts may constitute pins having upset ends.

The upper end of the diagonal leg 13. and the outer end of the horizontal leg 11 are joined by means of bolt 17. While the bolts 15 and 16 once installed, need;

not be removed, the bolt 17 is made readily removable for the purpose of adjusting the angle between the horizontal leg 11 and vertical leg 12. This angle between these two legs is varied in accordance with the batter of the supporting structure to which the knee brace is secured. This entire structure and the reason for adjusting the angle between horizontal leg 11 and vertical ment desired in the knee brace.

leg 12 is set forth more specifically hereinafter. How

ever, briefly stated the vertical leg 12 is adjusted to a position as shown at, 12' in order that it conforms to the slope or batter of the surface on which the knee braceis supported while at the same time maintaining the horizontal leg11 in a level position for supporting a cat walk. A number of holes 18 are provided in the anglesof the diagonal leg 13. The number and spacing of holes: 18 depends upon the batter'angle of the forms on whichv theknee brace is to be used and the amount of adjust- The greater the batter of the supporting structure, the closer the hole 18 must be to the bolt 16 in order to maintain the horizontal leg 11 in level position and leg 12 in a position parallel to the supporting structure. The adjustment is made simply byremoving the bolt 17 and adjusting the angle between legs 11 and 12 so that leg 11 is level when leg 12 is parallel to the batteredv supporting structure. The bolt 17 is then reinserted through the appropriate hole 18 and through the hole in the horizontal leg 11.

Mounted to the top outer surface of the horizontal leg his a post socket .19. Pivotally mounted at the junc ture between legs 12 and 1.3 is a foot 20. These elements. areconstructedain the mannerand for the purpose def Post socket 19 is secured to the channel section by, welding. The channel is arranged vertically wherebyethe, interior opening of-the channel sectionis.accessib eiroml the top. It should be understood: :thatposti'socketstfof almost any. design may be used structure. :The

conventional post is used to provide a railing support which consists of a short length of 2 x 4 lumber. Thus the inside opening of the post socket is designed to snugly seat such a post.

The pivotal movement of the foot about the bolt 16 is. limited by bolts not shown which extend through holes 21. The foot 20 is inoperative except in those situations in which the vertical spacing of the walers is irregular and the foot has to be used to properly space the lower end of the knee brace from the walls or studs and thus replace the waler which the knee brace would normally contact at this point. Like the post socket 19, foot 20 may be of many diflerent designs without affecting the scope of this invention. The post socket 19 and foot 20 do not form a part of this invention, therefore, a detailed description thereof is considered unnecessary.

An especially important feature of this invention is the, anchor bracket assembly22 for anchoring the adjustable knee brace to a supporting structure. The construction and operation of this anchor bracket is illustrated best in Figs. 2,3, 4, 5, and 6. The anchor bracket assembly 22 comprises a U-shaped yoke 24 which is pivoted on the bolt 15. A bolt 26 is used to secure adjustable anchor members 27 and 28 to the yoke 24. Anchor members 27 and 28 seat about the back and front surface of a waler 48 (Figs. 2 and 3) thereby anchoring the knee brace to the studs 47 of the supporting structure. The anchor member 27 consists of a plate 32 having a relatively narrow rectangular portion 33 at one end and at the other end a wider head portion 34 shaped as shown in Fig. 5. Head portion 34 has two fingers 45 extending downwardly from the plate. Head portion 34 also has a plurality of holes 64 whose purpose will be explained hereinafter. Anchor member or clamp 28 consists of a rectangular plate having a flange 46 (Fig. 4). The two anchor members 27 and 28 are arranged so that the fingers 45 are parallel to the flange 46. Anchor members 27 and 28 each have a number of spaced holes 29 and 30 respectively which are each designed to align with the holes 31 in yoke 24. The number and spacing of these holes depends upon the width of the waler on which the anchor bracket is to be fitted. The space between fingers 45 and flange 46 is thereby adjusted to a desired size which will permit a waler of standard width to seat between such members. The length of fingers 45 and flange 46 are such that they may seat about and obtain a firm bearing and grip against the back and front surfaces of the waler 48.

It should be evident from Fig. 4 that the adjustment of the space between fingers 45 and flange 46 can be easily and simply made by unscrewing the wing nut of bolt 26, removing the bolt and adjusting the space between the fingers 45 and flange 46. Thereafter, bolt 26 is inserted through selected holes to maintain the spacing between the members.

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 also illustrate another important feature of this invention, that is, the means for adjusting the anchor bracket for use on different types of form or scaffolding supports. As stated previously, different types of these supports are provided. One common type shown in Fig. 2 comprises a waler secured to the studs 47 with a wedge 62 therebetween. The wedge is shaped so that the waler is at an angle to the supporting structure and parallel to horizontal leg 11 thereby being normal to horizontal leg 11. Another arrangement for the waler is shown in Fig. 3 wherein the waler 48 is mounted directly on the studs 47. In this case, two of the sides are parallel to the surface of the supporting structure and the other two sides' are perpendicular to the surface of the supporting structure. As a result, two of the sides are perpendicular to the vertical leg 12 and two are parallel. This invention provides a means whereby the anchor bracket can be readily adjusted to grip firmly the walers of either of these types of supports.

two-way adjustment is provided. by pivotally.

mounting yoke 24 about the bolt 15 and selectively securing the yoke to horizontal leg 11 as shown in Fig. 2 or to vertical leg 12 as shown in Fig. 3. Yoke 24 is secured to either of these legs by means of a pin 53 extending through holes 50 or 51 on the sides of the yoke and through corresponding holes 52 or 54 in legs 11 or 12 respectively.

When it is desired to secure the anchor bracket to leg 11 in the position shown in Fig. 2, holes 50 are aligned with holes 52 on the sides of horizontal leg 11. Pin 53 is then inserted through the holes 52 and 50 thereby rigidly and fixedly securing the bracket to the horizontal leg 11. When secured in this position, vertical leg 12 can be pivoted with respect to horizontal leg 11 Without changing the position of anchor bracket 22. Therefore, regardless of the batter of the supporting structure the anchor bracket 22 will always be positioned to grip a waler of the supporting structure arranged perpendicular to leg 11 as shown in Fig. 2.

When the support structure is erected with the waler directly mounted to the face of the stud thus parallel to leg 12 as shown in Fig. 3, the anchor members 27 and 28 are secured perpendicular to the leg 12. In order to secure the anchor bracket in this position, holes 51 of yoke 24 are aligned with holes 54 of the leg 12. Thereafter the pin 53 is inserted through holes 51 and 54 thereby securing anchor bracket 22 to the vertical leg 12. In this position, vertical leg 12 can be pivoted with respect to horizontal leg 11 without changing the position of anchor bracket 22 relative to the vertical leg 12. As a result, the anchor bracket 22 can be utilized in its position shown in Fig. 3 to anchor the adjustable knee brace to the flush type waler supportof Fig. 3.

The anchor bracket 22 of this invention can also be utilized to support or anchor the knee brace to tiebolts extending from a masonry surface so that the knee brace is supported directly against the surface. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 7 and is accomplished by means of two upstanding support members 55, one mounted on each side and on the top of vertical leg 12. These are mounted on leg 12 by means of the bolt 15. The sides 56 of angles of the vertical leg 12 are seated flush with masonry wall 60 thus preventing member 15 from turning. Members 55 each have a top portion or flange 57 bent at right angles to the main body of the member and holes extending through these flanges. Anchor member 27 is placed on top of the members 55 with the holes 58 (Fig. 6) aligned with the holes in flanges 57. Memhers 55 are secured to the anchor member 27 by means of bolts 59. Anchor member 27 is secured to the masonry wall 60 by means of tiebolts 61 extending through holes 29 or in some cases holes 64.

The members 55 may be integral parts of the vertical legs 12. In this case the mounting bracket of the anchor bracket would be secured directly to legs 12 by means of bolt 59. This would eliminate the necessity for having separate members 55 secured to the angles of vertical leg 12. i

The various components of the knee brace described herein may be fabricated from steel, aluminum, or any other type of metal. It should be understood that other materials may be used where desirable. Various components are designed to be fabricated from simple shapes, eliminating the necessity for special tooling. It will be recognized that various parts of this invention may be simplified by the use of castings and forgings if such is desired.

Operation The operation of this invention is quite simple. This knee brace, since it is collapsible and adjustable, need not be fabricated on the project. 7 It is designed to be manufactured as a standard product and shipped in collapsed condition. It is not necessary in using this knee brace to design and make anchors for the knee brace since the anchor brackets of this invention Will -facilitate their use on several types of supporting structures.

To prepare this knee-brace for. mounting, the type of support structure is first determined. If it is of the type having its walers inclined to the studs and parallel to the ground, the yoke 24 is pivoted to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the pin 53 -is inserted through the holes 52 and 50 thereby securing yoke 24 rigidly to the horizontal leg 11, Next, the width of the waler is determined and theanchor members 27 and 28are mounted on yoke 24 with the appropriate holes 29, 31, and 30 aligned so that the distance between fingers 45 and clamp 46 are substantially equal to the width of the stud. Bolt 26 is then inserted'through holes 31, 29, and 30 and its wing nut is' screwedon. The bolt 17 at the juncture between hori zontal leg 11 and'diagonalleg 13 is-th'en removed. The diagonal leg 13 is adjustable by aligning diiferent open ings 18 with the opening in leg 11 through which bolt 17 extends. This will create an angle-which is equal to the batter of 'thesupporting structure so'that the vertical leg 12 rests parallel to the supporting structure.

The knee brace is then seoured'to the form by hooking the fingers 45 and 46 over "the stud 48 (Fig. 2). There may be provided a lower waler's'upport on which the knee brace bears. If not, the toot is pivoted in a position whereby it will bear against the structure support 47. The necessary planking to form this catwalk is then laid upon the 'horizental'leg 11. Ifdesired'it may besecured to the knee brace by suitable means such as bolts or clamps.

'When the anchor bracket isto be anchored to a waler support such as that shown-in Fig. 3, the-pin 5 3 isremoved and yoke 24-pivoted about the bolt 1'5 until hole 54 aligns with holes 51 in the yoke'24. Pin 53 is then inserted through holes 54 and 51 thereby securing the anchor bracket tovertical leg 12in the position shown in Fig. 3. The knee brace'is then secured to the waler by hooking thefingers 45 and clamp 46 over the waler 48 in the manner shown in Fig. 3. The catwalk is then laid upon the horizontal leg in the manner previously described.

When the knee brace rests directly against the masonry surface with no waler support or studding present, the arrangement appear-ing' in Fig. 7 is used. In this case, the anchor member 27 is secured to the bracket members 55 by means of aligning holes 58 in the anchor member 27 withcorresponding holes in members and fastening bolts therethrough. "The anchor member 27 is then secured to the masonry surface 60 by means of nuts on the endof'tiebolts 61'. a

It should be understood that although I have-described my invention as used in construction involving positive batter, it may also. be designed for projects having negative batters. In this case, the diagonal leg 13 is lengthened so an angle greater than '90 degrees may be formed between the horizontal leg and the vertical legl-Z. This is not a change in principle but merely an extension of the principles already discussed in-conneetion with walls having positive batters. Theanchor bracket is then hooked over the suitable waler support, for example, those shown inFigs. 2 or 3, or it couldbe hooked directly to a masonrysurface as shownin Fig. 7.

' It will be seenthat'I have described a knee brace having an adjustable anchor bracket which can be used on practically all types of construction projects. It is adapted for easy and simple adjustment whereby the support bracket can be used to anchor the knee brace to several different types of waler supports. The mere fact that the batter angles and the waler support spacings may be dififerent from one project to another does not affect the utility of this invention.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that it should not be limited by theembodiment illustrated in this specification.

. '6 Various modifications of; this inventionmay be made; Each:of..:=these modifications should he considered to be; included in the appended claims unless those claims, by the; language expressly state otherwise.

1. In an adjustable knee brace for supporting a catwalk along a supporting structure, said knee brace having a horizontal leg, a vertical leg, a diagonal leg, and, means: foripivotally securing said horizontal and vertical legstogether with said vertical leg adapted to bear-against said'supporting structures; said diagonal leg being securedto said horizontal and vertical legs to form atriangle; meansfor varying the relative angle between-saidhorizontallcg' and vertical leg whereby when said horizontal leg is maintained level saidvertical leg is adapted to bear against supporting structures having difierent: batters; ananchor; bracket; said anchor bracket being pivotallysecured to said knee brace relative to said horizontal and vertical legs; and means on said bracket and said horizontal lcgfor detachahly securing said bracket. tosaidhorizontal leg and means onsaid bracket and said.- vertical'leg for detachably securing said bracket to said vertical leg whereby the position of the bracket can' be selectively determined by the position of the leg to which it isssecured;

2. .In anadjustable knee brace for supporting a catwalk along a supporting structure, said knee brace havinga. horizontal leg pivotally secured to a vertical leg about anxaxis, said verticallegbeing adapted to bear against said supporting structure; a diagonal leg secured to said.- o outa and ti al legs o for a an l m ansf r v ry ng he elati e angle b tween said o n a g and vertical leg whereby whenisaidrhorizontal' leg is-mains tained level, said vertical leg can bear against supporting structureszhavingzdifierent batters; an anchor bracket freely pivotally mounted about said axis; and means on said: bracket and said horizontal leg'for detachably se curing said bracket to said horizontal leg and means on,-

said bracket. and said vertical leg for detachablysecuring said: bracket: to said vertical leg whereby the position-oi the. bracket canbese c v ly e e ne y the pos n or the :leg to which it iss'ceured. e

3. In-an a justable knee brace or s pp r ng atwalk alongasupporting structure, said knee brace having. a horizontal leg, a vertical leg, a diagonal leg, and means for p v ly securing s id. h i ont l nd rt a legs:

together with said vertical leg adapted to bear against said. pp rtin struc u e; said dia on l leg being s em d saidhorizontal. and vertical legs thereby forming a tri lmneansfor v y ng the d tanc between i p ints:

ofsecurem'ent between said horizontal legand said ding onal leg and said verticalleg and said diagonal leg where, by. the relative angle between said horizontal leg and vertical leg isadaptedto, be varied; and an anchor bracket;

for. n in a suppo member of id upp i ructure, said :anchor bracket being p o a ly ou ed-on s id kneebrace relative to bothsaidhorizontal and vertical legs; and means onsaid bracket and said horizontal leg;

for. detachably securingsaid bracket to said horizontal: leg-rand: means onsaidbracket and said vertical leg for,

detachablyfsecuring said; bracket to said vertical leg;

whereby the: position of the bracket can be selectively determined. by the position or the leg. to. which it is se; cured. R i

4. In an adjustable knee brace of triangular shape having horizontal, vertical and diagonal legs, the improvement comprising: an anchor bracket; first means at the juncture of said horizontal and vertical legs for pivotally securing said legs together and said anchor bracket to said legs for pivotal movement relative to said legs; second means on said bracket and horizontal leg and spaced from said first means for detachably securing said bracket to said horizontal leg and third means on said bracket and vertical leg and spaced from said first means for detachably securing said bracket to said vertical leg causing the angular relationship between said anchor bracket and the leg to which it is secured to remain constant irrespective of changes in the angular relationship between said horia zontal and vertical legs whereby the position of "the bracket can be selectively determined by the position of the leg to which it is secured. Y 5. In an adjustable knee brace for supporting a catwalk along a supporting structure, said knee brace having a horizontal leg, a vertical leg, a diagonal leg, and means for pivotally securing said horizontal and vertical legs together about an axis with said vertical leg adapted to bear against said supporting structure; said diagonal leg being secured to said horizontal and vertical legs thereby forming a triangle; means for varying the distance between said points of securement between said horizontal leg and said vertical leg and saidlvertical leg and said horizontal leg whereby the relative angle between said horizontal leg and vertical leg is adapted to bevaried; and an anchor bracket for engaging a support member of said supporting structure; said anchor bracket being pivotally mounted about the pivotal axis of said vertical and horizontal legs; and means on said bracket and said horizontal leg for detachably securing said bracket to said horizontal leg and means on said bracket and said vertical leg for detachably securing said bracket to said vertical leg whereby the position of the bracket can be selectively determined by the position of the leg to which his secured v 6. In an adjustable knee brace for supporting a catwalk along a supporting structure, said knee brace having a horizontal leg, a vertical leg, and a diagonal leg, and means pivotally securing said legs together to form a triangle with said vertical leg adapted to bear against-said supporting structure; the point of attachment between said horizontal leg and said vertical leg-being adjustable along said diagonal leg whereby said horizontal leg remains level irrespective of the batter of said supporting structure; and an anchor bracket for engaging a support member of said supporting structure, said anchorbracket being pivotally mounted on said knee brace relative to both said horizontal and vertical legs, and means on said bracket and said horizontal leg for detachably securing said bracket to said horizontal leg and means on said bracket and said vertical leg for detachably securing said bracket to said vertical leg whereby the position of the bracket can be selectively determined by the position of the leg to which it is secured. 1

7. In an adjustable knee brace for supporting a catwalk along a supporting structure, said knee bracehaving a horizontal leg, 2. vertical leg, and a diagonal leg, and means pivotally securing said legs together to form a triangle with said vertical leg adapted to bear against said supporting structure; the point of attachment between said horizontal leg and said vertical leg being adjustable along said diagonal leg whereby said horizontal leg remains level irrespective of the batter of said supporting structure; and an anchor bracket for engaging a support member of said supporting structure, said anchor bracket being pivotally mounted about the pivotal axis between said horizontal and vertical legs; and -means on said bracketrand said horizontal leg for detachably securing said bracket to said horizontal leg and means on said bracket and said'vertical leg for detachably securing said bracket to said vertical leg whereby the position of the bracket can be selectively determined by the position of the leg to which it is, secured.

8. In an adjustable knee brace for supporting a catwalk along a supporting structure said knee brace having a horizontal leg, a vertical leg, a diagonal leg, and means for pivotally securing said horizontal and vertical legs together with said vertical leg adapted to bear against said supporting structures; said diagonal leg being secured to said horizontal and vertical legs to form a triangle; means for varying the relative angle between said horizontal leg and vertical leg whereby when said horizontal leg is maintained level said vertical leg is adapted to bear against supporting structures having different batters; an anchor bracket comprising a member pivotally secured to said knee brace relative to said horizontal and vertical legs; and means on said bracket and said horizontal leg for detachably securing said bracket to said horizontal leg and means on said bracket and said vertical leg for detachably securing said bracket to said vertical leg whereby the position of the bracket can be selectively determined by the position of the leg to which it is secured.

V 9. An adjustable knee brace as defined in claim 7 wherein the adjustable means for clamping to said support comprises a finger-like anchor member and a clamp member, and means for adjusting the space between said members for clamping on to different size supports.

10. In an adjustable knee brace for supporting a catwalk along a supporting structure, said knee brace having a horizontal leg, a vertical leg, a diagonal leg, and means for pivotally securing said horizontal and vertical legs together with said vertical leg adapted to bear against said supporting structures; said diagonal leg being secured to said horizontal and vertical legs to form a triangle; means for varying the relative angle between said horizontal leg and vertical leg whereby when said horizontal leg is maintained level said vertical leg is adapted to bear against supporting structures having different batters; an anchor bracket comprising a member pivotally secured to said knee brace relative to said horizontal and vertical legs; first and second openings in said bracket; an opening in said horizontal leg adapted to be aligned with said first opening in said bracket and an opening in said vertical leg adapted to be aligned with said second opening in said bracket; and a pin for detachably securing said bracket to said horizontal leg when said opening in said horizontal leg and said first opening are aligned and for detachably securing said bracket to said vertical leg when said opening in said vertical leg and said second opening are aligned, whereby the position of the bracket can be selectively determined by the position of the leg to which it is attached.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Soditch et a1. May 23, 1950 

